17 February 1942:
At 1000 departs Kendari, Celebes with transport KASUGA MARU both with troops destined for Kupang to support the invasion of Dutch (West) Timor. A total of nine transports are involved but they sail at different times in different echelons. The ship is met en route by light cruiser JINTSU and destroyer HATSUKAZE.

24 August 1942:
Departs Kure with NOSHIRO MARU to operate from the Shortlands area off Bougainville.

25 August 1942:
Transits the Bungo Straits heading south.

28 August 1942:
The "R" Area Air Force (Homen Koku Butai) is created within the Eighth Fleet under Rear Admiral Jojima Takatsugu (40) (former CO of SHOKAKU) from the complements of four seaplane tenders. The seaplane unit is to augment the IJN’s land-based aircraft in the Guadalcanal area. The unit uses Type 0 Aichi E13A1 "Jake" three-seat float monoplanes for long-range reconnaissance and anti-submarine missions, Type O Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" fighters and F1M2s for light bombing, convoy-escort duty and to complement the A6M2-Ns in the fighter role.

The R-Area Air Force is based in Shortland harbor, but Rekata Bay on Santa Isabel Island, 135 miles NW of Lunga Point on Guadalcanal, serves as the unit's forward staging base.

2 September 1942:
KUNIKAWA MARU surrenders her aircraft to the 21st Air Flotilla.

8 September 1942:
KUNIKAWA MARU departs Truk for Shortland anchorage escorted by destroyer MURASAME to carry a construction force as well as materials to build the airfield at Buin.

Between 8-24 September KUNIKAWA MARU searches Solomons and Santa Cruzs Islands for potential seaplane bases with destroyer escorts at different times consisting of MURASAME, SAMIDARE and HARUSAME.

10 September 1942:
At 0600 (JST), departs Shortland in company of MURASAME, operating with the Eastern Guard Unit. KUNIKAWA MARU carries six Mitsubishi F1M2 "Petes".

11 September 1942:
At 0845, Lt Carlton H. Clark’s PBY-5 CATALINA of VP-11 is sighted in the vicinity. At 0900, KUNIKAWA MARU launches two of her F1M2s to intercept the Catalina. The PBY receives heavy damage and crashes at 01-40S, 160E. The 8-man strong crew is taken aboard MURASAME, which scuttles all debris. Later that day, MURASAME is detached and heads to join the Vanguard Force.

12 September 1942:
HARUSAME joins KUNIKAWA MARU as her new escort. The R Area Air Force has nine E13A1, F1M2 and A6M2-N aircraft.

14 September 1942:
E13A1s based at Shortland and Rekata begin reconnoitering American sea communications between Noumea and Guadalcanal. They make shuttle flights to Indispensable Reef, where they are refueled by submarines.

17 September 1942:
Launches one of her seaplanes for a reconnaissance mission to Nauru. Supplies HARUSAME with 350t fuel and 23t boiler water. 4 aircraft alternately provide air and anti submarine cover.

20 September 1942:
A further PBY is sighted. Three seaplanes are launched to intercept, one is lost.

24 September 1942:
Returns to Shortland.

25-27 September and 5 October 1942
Air-raids on Shortland.

Early October 1942:
Headquarters, Combined Fleet decides to establish a secret refuelling point for the R Area Air Force's E13A1 floatplanes at Mohawk Bay, Ndeni Island. Initially, it is planned for KUNIKAWA MARU deliver the first three Jakes, but she cannot put to sea because of a machinery breakdown.

4 October 1942:
Southern tip of Santa Isabel Island, Solomons. A troop convoy bound for Guadalcanal in bad weather is being escorted by A6M2-Ns and F1M2s when the convoy is attacked by Navy and Marine Grumman F4F-4 “Wildcat” fighters and Douglas SBD “Dauntless” dive bombers from Henderson Field and USS HORNET (CV-8). Three F1M2s from KUNIKAWA MARU attack an SBD of VS-71 and force it to ditch, but the dive-bombers' crew is later picked up by a Grumman J2F-5 "Duck" floatplane.

8 October 1942:
The R Area Air Force's strength is now 12 F1M2 "Petes" from KUNIKAWA, SANUKI and SANYO MARUs and CHITOSE's Air Groups, five A6M2-N Rufes from KAMIKAWA MARU's Air Group and nine E13A1 Jakes from the CHITOSE and SANYO MARU's Air Groups. Other ships provide two more F1M2s, two E13A1s and nine E7K2 Alfs.

14 November 1942:
Navy and Marine aircraft attack Tanaka’s troop transports. They are opposed by A6M “Zekes”of the 204th Naval Air Group (NAG) from Buin and by eight F1M2s from Rekata Bay. Two of the Petes are from the battleship HIEI, sunk the previous night in naval action. Three F1M2s are from SANYO MARU, two from KUNIKAWA MARU (including the flight leader) and one from SANUKI MARU.

The Americans claim two Zekes and six Petes shot down for the loss of one Wildcat. The 204th NAG loses two A6Ms. Five of the R-Area Air Force's eight floatplanes, three of which are damaged, return to Rekata. One of the HIEI’s's F1M2s is lost. SANYO MARU loses two planes.

25 November 1942:
Departs Kure for Yokosuka.

27 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

1 December 1942:
Reassigned to the Second Fleet, 11th Seaplane Tender Division.

2 December 1942:
Departs Yokosuka to operate in the Shortland area and deliver 12 F1M2 Petes to support the evacuation of Guadalcanal.

March 1943:
Guadalcanal. KUNIKAWA MARU and KAMIKAWA MARU’s Air Unit's FIM2s make nocturnal harassment raids. Their engine noise and the explosions of their 60-kg bombs make sleep impossible for American troops around Henderson Field.

16 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka to operate in the Shortland area.

21 March 1943:
At 1530 KUNIKAWA MARU arrives at Truk via the north channel.

22 March 1943:
At 1130 KUNIKAWA MARU departs Truk via the south channel.

27 March 1943:
A single floatplane attacks Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, photo-reconnaissance missions flown by the USAAF’s 17th Reconnaissance Squadron’s Lockheed F-5As (P-38) pinpoint the Faisi-Poporang area in the Shortland Islands as the principal IJN seaplane base in the Solomons.

28 March 1943:
A reconnaissance photo shows 27 floatplanes at their moorings in the Shortlands.

29 March 1943:
Poporang Island, Shortlands. A joint-service fighter sweep by led by Captain Tom Lanphier with five Lockheed P-38 “Lightnings” of the USAAF 70th Fighter Squadron, and one Marine Chance-Vought F-4U-1 “Corsair” of VMF-124, hits the Faisi-Poporang seaplane base. They set fire to eight Pete floatplanes, originally attached to KUNIKAWA and KAMIKAWA MARUs, and damage three others. [1]

On their way back to base the American pilots spot a “destroyer” cruising about six miles E of the Shortlands. Each plane makes four strafing passes on subchaser CH-28 and set her afire. The subchaser takes on a 15 degree list. [1]

31 March 1943:
Submarine chaser CH-29 starts escorting.

1 April 1943:
At the equator CH-29 detaches.

8 April 1943:
Returns to Yokosuka.

14 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka to ferry aircraft via Truk to Rabaul.

15 April 1943:
The 11th Seaplane Tender Division is disbanded. KUNIKAWA MARU is attached to the Southeast Area Fleet and her aircraft are assigned to the 938th NAG.

25 April 1943:
At 0720 departs Truk in convoy with YODOGAWA MARU escorted by destroyers UMEKAZE and HAGIKAZE.

At 1600, another dud is felt to hit the ship. HIYODORI counterattacks unsuccessfully with depth charges.

10 May 1943:
About 243 nms E of Saipan. At dawn, Bass attacks again the convoy tracked since the day before. At 0400, USS PLUNGER torpedoes and damages KINAI MARU leaving her dead in the water. At 0705, TATSUTAKE MARU is ordered to take off about 400 passengers. At 0748 USS PLUNGER torpedoes TATSUTAKE MARU while she is taking off passengers from KINAI MARU. TATSUTAKE MARU dodges two torpedoes but the third one hits her No. 4 hold and causes a vast explosion. Many of the evacuees are KIA. At about 0900, TATSUTAKE MARU is hit by two torpedoes fired in a submerged attack by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Raymond H. Bass' (USNA ’31) USS PLUNGER (SS-179). TATSUTAKE MARU sinks by the stern at 14-33N, 149-23E. Four crewmen are KIA. HIYODORI rescues the survivors. [3]
At 1253, USS PLUNGER again torpedoes and damages KINAI MARU. In addition, torpedo boat HIYODORI is damaged in collision with TATSUTAKE and KINAI MARUs, during the rescue of survivors.

11 May 1943:
At about 0600, USS PLUNGER finds KINAI MARU still afloat. LtCdr Bass surfaces and finishes her off with gunfire. She sinks at 0827 in position 14-33N, 149-23E. Only one crewman is KIA. Later that day HIYODORI arrives at Saipan carrying survivors of KINAI and TATSUTAKE MARUs.

15 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

1 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka to ferry aircraft to Rabaul in convoy No. 3601A consisting only of KUNIKAWA MARU escorted by the destroyer YUZUKI.

7 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

10 June 1943:
At 0900, departs Truk as only ship in convoy No. 1101 escorted by subchaser CH-10 (or CH-16).

13 June 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Rabaul.

30 June 1943:
Returns to Yokosuka.

10 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka to ferry aircraft to Rabaul.

30 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Unloads aircraft. At 1130, departs for Truk in an unnumbered convoy with HAKUSAN MARU escorted by destroyers YUNAGI and MINATSUKI.

19 October 1943:
A submarine attack occurs and 4 depth charges are dropped.

21 October 1943:
SE of Ulithi. At about 0200, GOSHU MARU is hit by two torpedoes from LtCdr (later Captain) David L. Whelchel's (USNA ’30) USS STEELHEAD (SS-280) in holds No. 1 and No. 2 and catches fire. Strenuous efforts by her crew result in the fire being extinguished, but the ship can make only 2-4 knots. She heads for Ulithi escorted by TACHIKAZE. KUNIKAWA MARU continues alone at high speed.

23 October 1943:
Arrives at Kayangel Atoll, N of Palau and later proceeds into Palau.

26 December 1943:
At 1300 departs Takao for Singapore with a replacement escort, kaibokan MATSUWA. The convoy now only consists of KUNIKAWA, TSUKUSHI, KYUEI and OTORISAN MARUs; the others remain at Takao.

27 December 1943:
162 miles WSW of Takao. At about 1030, in the second of two submerged attacks, LtCdr (later Captain)Robert D. Risser's (USNA ’34) USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) torpedoes and sinks oiler KYUEI MARU at 21-25N, 118-05E. 54 crewmen are KIA. MATSUWA rescues survivors and the ships continue their voyage.

2 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Berths at Seletar Military Wharf.

3 – 4 January 1944:
The passengers are disembarked.

13 January 1944:
At 0858 departs Singapore and later that day at 1700 arrives at Bintan where the ship loads 4,000 tons of bauxite.

14 January 1944:
At 1057 departs Bintan and shortly after at 1640 arrives at Singapore.

15 January 1944:
Embarks 179 passengers.

16 January 1944:
At 1645 departs Singapore sailing at 14 knots in the special supplementary high speed "Sunosaki Convoy"convoy consisting of SUNOSAKI, KUNIKAWA MARU, cargo passenger ship TSUKUSHI MARU and another unidentified ship with an unknown escort.

8 May 1944:
After completing temporary repairs, KUNIKAWA MARU hits another mine while being towed at the roadstead and becomes grounded thereafter.

26 September 1944:
Balikpapan. After being refloated, KUNIKAWA MARU is repaired.

29 September 1944:
Balikpapan. KUNIKAWA MARU is anchored in the harbor.

6 May 1945:
Balikpapan. Removed to No. 5 berth.

21 May 1945:
Balikpapan harbor. While moored at No. 5 berth, KUNIKAWA MARU is hit by one bomb in her No. 7 hold and damaged by several near misses during an air raid. Eight sailors are killed. At 1310, she sinks at 02-15S, 116-00E.

30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors’ Notes:[1] Captain Tom Lanphier was originally credited with shooting down Admiral Yamamoto's "Betty" bomber in Apr '43 over Bougainville, but later research concludes that Lt Rex Barber actually shot down Yamamoto's plane on that mission.

[2] The submarine probably was USS PLUNGER (SS-179) that reported an underwater periscopic attack at 0300 that day on a 7,400-ton cargo ship at 10-18N, 150-46E. As a result of inadequate allocation of developmental and operational testing and evaluation funding, the American submarine force's primary weapon, the Mark XIV torpedo was plagued with many defects including deep running, faulty magnetic influence effect and an unreliable contact exploder.

[3] Bass was a 1932 Olympic Gold Medalist in rope-climbing, an event discontinued after that year.

[4] Some sources attribute the mine to one laid 10 months before by USS TAUTOG (SS-199) on 7 March 1943.

Special thanks for assistance in developing this TROM go to Mssrs. Andrew Obluski of Poland and Jean-Francois Masson of Canada. Special thanks also to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.

Thanks go to Toda Gengoro of Japan for information in Revision 4.

Thanks also go to Tracy White for additional details on the 29 Mar '43 attack on Poporang Island, Shortlands in Revision 5.